Espionage threat unprecedented: govt

Australia is facing an unprecedented threat from espionage and foreign interference, federal parliament has heard.

Current laws aren't adequate to deal with the threat, says government MP and intelligence committee chair Andrew Hastie.

"Unchecked, espionage has the potential to significantly reduce Australia's long-term security and foreign interference could undermine our democracy and threaten the rights and freedoms of our people," he said.

Mr Hastie was presenting a report into the government's proposed foreign interference laws, which included 60 recommendations.

In public and private hearings, classified briefings and from submissions the committee was told there was strong support for the legislation.

There were also calls for caution to ensure beneficial conduct isn't caught up.

Oxfam Australia has raised serious concerns about separate but related legislation that would establish a register for people acting on behalf of foreign powers they fear could hamper their work tackling poverty and advancing human rights.

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Oxfam Australia public policy manager Rachel Ball said the group partnered with overseas governments, departments and public authorities on issues including domestic violence and climate change.

"We work with them, not for them," Ms Ball said on Monday.

"It's inappropriate for this sort of work to be caught by a complex, expensive and burdensome regulatory regime that's intended to ensure the transparency of foreign agents."

The Law Council of Australia and Pew Charitable Trusts have also warned the register could have far-reaching unintended consequences.

If there is a register, Universities Australia wants safeguards to ensure the legislation no longer captures academics collaborating with international colleagues.

Attorney-General Christian Porter insists there will be no stigma attached to the register, given lobbying on behalf of foreign governments happens all the time.

"It's just that we want to know what those relationships are that sit behind the lobbying or the attempts to influence a government outcome or process," he told reporters in Canberra.

Mr Porter is looking to strike a bipartisan deal on the foreign influence register, akin to an agreement struck with Labor last week on laws targeting foreign spies trying to influence Australian politicians and media.

He expects the intelligence and security committee to consider proposed government amendments to the register, propose some changes of its own and produce a final report so the bills can be dealt with next week.